Arising from the emergency executive meeting held at about 2pm on the 18th of February, 2024, The Central Working Committee of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) comprising of its National Executives, the highest decision making body of the Association has vowed to protect the workers of the Public Complaints Commission and stand in Solidarity with them until all their demands are met by the management of the Public Complaints Commission and the Senator Akpabio led National Assembly.
While reacting to an alleged meeting between the management of the PCC and the Senate President at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja held on the 15th February where a purported resolution was reached on the status of the Public Complaints Commission, its finances, payment of the approved salaries and arrears and membership of PASAN and the ongoing industrial crisis, the Central Working Committee doubts the authenticity of the resolution reached with the President of the Senate.
The Central Working Committee of the National Body describes the deplorable state of the workers of Public Complaints Commission as amongst the worst in Nigeria, owing to the fact that the workers haven’t received a dime from the 40% Peculiar salary increment enjoyed by all Federal Civil Servants and 35,000 palliative for federal workers.
The staff of the Commission are being paid their approved salaries in percentages despite a remarkable increment in the Commission’s budget; a situation which has pitched the workers against the management.
Sources say the management rather than paying the staff the approved salaries has opted for percentage payment of salaries while reserving a huge chunk of the budget for capital projects. Also about 16 months CONLESS Arrears, and 3 years Promotion arrears being owed the workers. Despite the above, the management of the Commission in its insensitivity are victimising staff by transferring them far away from their place of work without pay as stipulated in the Public Service Rules.
The Central Working Committee has now escalated the crisis to the Nigerian Labour Congress while Public Complaints Commission Offices remain locked and taking the protest to the National Assembly premises, all relevant stakeholders, and calling for the state Chapters of PASAN to join in Solidarity.
The National body is calling on the President of the Senate to intervene in the crisis so the issues be put to rest.